Railroad-tie.



PATENTBD MAR. 14, 1905.

J. A. SIFERD.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 17 1904 2 sums-sum 1.

' I'nvenm I Jfls'ifanv'.

:- attorney;

' No -785,053. I PATENTED AR.14,1905.

'- J. A. SIPERD.

-' RAILROAD TIE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 17, 1904.

WNW I limml Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. SIFERD, OF IVARREN, INDIANA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,053, dated March14, 1905.

Application filed August 17,1904. Serial No. 221,132.

To (I/U/ 10720772, 712% may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES A. SIEERD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Warren, in the county of Huntington and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Ties, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention embodies a peculiar form of metallic tie for railroads,and comprises, essentially, the tie proper,in combination with specialclamping devices carried thereby and adapted to engage the rails torigidly secure the same in position upon the tie.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a perspective view showing embodiment of my invention in practicaluse. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional'view through the tie,the rails being shown in position thereon. Fig. 3 is plan view of thetie, the rails being removed and the lock device cooperating with theadjusting-bar likewise displaced. Fig. 4 is a vertical transversesectional View taken about the line .11 m of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of one of the railclamping members. Fig. 6 is aperspective View of the adjusting-bar.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and -indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The tie 1 is a hollow formation and is preferably made of cast metal orthe like. The hollow formation. of the tie lends a certain amount ofelasticity thereto-a necessary characteristic in devices of thischaracter. Ad-

jacent the ends of the tie l are formed rail-. seats 2, said seatsconstituting transverse cutaway portions of the uppermost side of thetie arranged to receive the rails 3 in proper spaced relation. One sideof each of the seats 2 of the tie is undercut, as shown at 4, so thatsaid tie will overhang one of the basal flanges of the rail 3 when thelatter is in position upon the tie 1. One side of each seat thereforepositively engages the rail received therein, and clamp members 5 aremovably mounted within the hollow portion of the tie for positivecooperation with the said rails. The clamp members 5 consist of blocksor bodies slidably mounted within the tie, and each of the members 5 isformed with an integral undercut flange 6 on the upper side thereof.said flange positively engaging the side of the rail opposite to thatwhich is engaged by the undercut portion 1 of the adjacent seat 2. Theclamp members 5 being movable longitudinally of the tie are adapted tooperate against one side of adjacent ra-il, andin addition to engagingsaid rails, as above described, said clamp members force the said railhard against the portion 4 of the adjacent seat 2.

The means for actuating the clamp members 5 isan adjusting-bar 7,disposed within the tie l and arranged longitudinally thereof. The endsof said adjusting-bar 7 are threaded, as shown at 8, and received inthreaded openings 9 in the clamp members 5. The adjusting-bar 7 is ofsquared formation, as shown at "10, centrally of its ends, so that anysuitable implement may be applied, such as a wrench or similardevice, inorder.to rotate said bar to effect movement of the members 5. In orderto have access to the squared portion 10 of the adjusting-bar, the tie lis provided with an opening 11 in the upper side thereof, said openingbeing situated between the ends of said tie. At one side of the opening11 in the hollow space of the tie is formed a vertical integral web 12,having an opening therein, through which passes the bar 7. The bar 00-operates with the web to actuate the members 5 in their longitudinalmovement by bearing against one side of the part 12. A cap-plate 13normally closes the opening 11 of the tie 1, and this plate is providedwith means engaging the squared portion 10 of the adjusting; bar toprevent rotation of said bar, which might cause the members 5 to loosenand disengage from the rail adjacent thereto. The lock means consists ofthe solid extension 14,

projecting from the under side of the plate 13, and said extension 14 isprovided with a recess 15 to receive the portion of the bar 7 The recessis also of square formation, and when the portion 10 of the bar 7 isreceived therein said bar is locked from rotary movement, and this is ofno small advantage in securing the clamp members 5 from movement underall conditions of service. The threads at the, ends of the bar 7 run inthe same direction, so that the bar when operated will bear against theweb 12, pulling upon the clamp member which is farther from the squaredportion thereof, at the same time exerting a pushing force against theadjacent clamp member or that at the right end of the bar, as shown inthe drawings. 7 1

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isv 1. Incombination, a hollow railroad-tie provided with rail-seats adjacent theends thereof, clamp members adjustable within the hollow portion of thetie, engaging flanges projecting upward from said members forcooperation with the rails, and an adjusting-bar for effectingsimultaneous actuation of the clamp members.

2. In combination, ahollow railroad-tie provided with rail-seatsadjacent the ends thereof, clamp members adjustable Within the hollowportion of the tie, engaging flanges projecting upward from said membersfor cooperation with the rails, and an adjusting-bar having its endsthreaded and received by the clamp members.

3. In combination, ahollow railroad-tie provided with rail-seatsadjacent its ends, railclamp members adjustable in said tie, anadjusting-bar cooperating with said clamp members to effect movementthereof, and means for preventing movement of the adj Listing-bar.

4. In combination, a hollow railroad-tie provided with rail-seatsadjacent its ends, rail clamp members movable longitudinally in saidtie, said tie being provided between its ends and in the hollow portionthereof with a vertical web having an opening therethrough, anadjusting-bar passing through the web and having its opposite endsreceived by the clamping members for actuation thereof, the said barbeing squared between its ends, the tie JAMES A. SIFERD.

Witnesses:

G. M. VERMILLIoN, PERRY O. MINNICH.

